Sony HVL-F58AM User Manual
Flash
HVL-F58AM
Operating Instructions
4-105-930-11(1)
© 2008 Sony Corporation
English
Before operating the product, please read this manual thoroughly and retain it for
future reference.
WARNING
To reduce fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.
Tape over lithium battery contacts to avoid short-circuit when disposing of
batteries, and follow local regulations for battery disposal.
Keep batteries or things that could be swallowed away from young children.
Contact a doctor immediately if an object is swallowed.
Immediately remove the batteries and discontinue use if...
• the product is dropped or subjected to an impact in which the interior is exposed.
• the product emits a strange smell, heat, or smoke.
Do not disassemble. Electric shock may occur if a high voltage circuit inside the
product is touched.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
When using your photographic equipment, basic safety
precautions should always be followed, including the
following:
Read and understand all instructions before using.
Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used
by or near children. Do not leave appliance unattended
while in use.
Care must be taken as burns can occur from touching hot
parts.
2
Do not operate appliance with a damaged cord or if the
appliance has been dropped or damaged- until it has been
examined by a qualified serviceman.
Let appliance cool completely before putting away. Loop
cord loosely around appliance when storing.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not immerse this
appliance in water or other liquids.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this
appliance, but take it to a qualified serviceman when
service or repair work is required. Incorrect reassembly can
cause electric shock when the appliance is used
subsequently.
The use of an accessory attachment not recommended by
the manufacturer may cause a risk of fire, electric shock, or
injury to persons.
Batteries may become hot or explode due to improper use.
Use only the batteries specified in this instruction manual.
Do not install the batteries with the polarity (+/-) reversed.
Do not subject batteries to fire or high temperatures.
Do not attempt to recharge (except for rechargeable
batteries), short or disassemble.
Do not mix, batteries of different types, brands or ages.
SAVE THESE
INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION
Do not touch the flashtube during operation, it may become hot when the flash
fires.
3
For customers in Europe
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment
(Applicable in the European Union and other European
countries with separate collection systems)
This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this
product shall not be treated as household waste. Instead it shall be
handed over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of
electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is
disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential negative
consequences for the environment and human health, which could
otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of this
product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural
resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this
product, please contact your local Civic Office, your household
waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the
product.
Notice for the customers in the countries applying EU
Directives
The manufacturer of this product is Sony Corporation, 1-7-1 Konan Minato-ku
Tokyo, 108-0075 Japan. The Authorized Representative for EMC and product
safety is Sony Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger Strasse 61, 70327 Stuttgart,
Germany. For any service or guarantee matters please refer to the addresses given
in separate service or guarantee documents.
For the customers in the U.S.A.
CAUTION
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this
manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.
NOTE:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
4
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of following measures:
– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
– Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
5
Table of Contents
Features .................................................................................................... 9
Name of parts ........................................................................................ 10
Preparations
Inserting batteries ..................................................................................15
Attachment and removal of the flash unit ............................................. 18
Turning on the power ............................................................................ 20
Changing the flash mode ....................................................................... 22
LCD panel illuminator ........................................................................... 24
Basics
Program auto flash (The basics) ............................................................ 25
Using flash in each recording mode of the camera ............................... 29
Applications
Test-flash ............................................................................................... 31
Zoom flash coverage ............................................................................. 32
Bounce flash .......................................................................................... 36
Close-up photography (downward bounce) .......................................... 41
Manual flash (M) ................................................................................... 43
High-speed sync (HSS) ......................................................................... 47
Multiple flash (MULTI) ........................................................................ 48
Wireless flash mode (WL) ..................................................................... 54
Connecting camera and flash by cable .................................................. 69
Using external battery adaptor ............................................................... 71
AF illuminator ....................................................................................... 72
Reset to the default settings ...................................................................73
Custom setting ....................................................................................... 74
6
Additional Information
Notes on use .......................................................................................... 81
Maintenance ........................................................................................... 83
Specifications ........................................................................................84
7
Before use
For details, refer to the operating instructions supplied with your camera.
This flash unit is not dust-proof, splash-proof or waterproof.
Do not place this flash unit in the following locations
Regardless of whether this flash unit is in use or in storage, do not place it in any of
the following locations. Doing so may lead to a malfunction.
• Placing this flash unit in locations subject to direct sunlight such as on
dashboards or near a heater may cause this unit to deform or malfunction.
• Locations with excessive vibration
• Locations with strong electromagnetism
• Locations with excessive sand
In locations such as the seashore and other sandy areas or where dust clouds
occur, protect the unit from sand and dust.
This may lead to a malfunction.
8
Features
The HVL-F58AM is a functional, clip-on flash that provides a
large flash output with a guide number of 58 (105 mm position,
ISO 100 · m).
Can be used with compatible lenses to enable ADI (Advanced
Distance Integration) flash metering, which is not affected by
the reflection rate of the background or subject.
Enables wireless High-speed Sync. , page 47
Quick shift bounce function enables
you to set the upper or side position
easily during bounce flash
photography.
Built-in bounce sheet enables you to create a highlight in the
subject’s eyes.
Equipped with a wide, easy-to-see LCD panel. , page 13
This flash unit supports flash coverage to a focal length of
16 mm by using a built-in wide panel when the flash is
triggered.
Corrects the white balance automatically using the color
temperature information.*
Adjusts the optimum flash coverage according to the image
sensor size of the camera.*
* When Sony digital single-lens reflex camera (other than the DSLR-A100) is used.
, page 84
, page 43
, page 36
, page 36
, page 34
, page 28
, page 32
9
Name of parts
A Built-in wide panel (page 34)
B Flashtube
C Wireless control signal receiver
(page 54)
D AF illuminator (page 72)
Remove the protective sheet from the
front of the AF illuminator before use.
10
E Mounting foot (page 18)
F Terminal cap (page 69, 71)
G Bounce sheet (page 36)
*
H Bounce indicator (upper angle)
(page 36)
I LCD panel (page 13)
J Control panel (page 12)
K Bounce indicator (side angle)
(page 36)
L Mounting-foot release button
(page 19)
M Battery-chamber door (page 15)
N Mini-stand (page 57)
* Tripod mount
11
Control panel
A TTL/M (MANUAL/MULTI)
button (page 44, 48, 61, 66, 73)
B MODE button (page 22)
C TEST button (page 31)
The status while the lamp is lit
Amber: Flash ready
Green: Proper exposure
D Fn (function)/direction buttons
(page 44, 48, 61, 64, 66, 74)
12
E POWER switch (page 20)
F LCD illuminator button
(page 24)
G ZOOM button (page 32)
LCD panel
A Zoom indicator (page 32)
B Flash mode indicator (page 22,
61, 64, 66)
C Flash-OFF indicator (page 22)
D Power-level indicator (page 43,
48)
E Zoom/Multiple-flash repetition
display (page 32, 48)
F mm indicator (page 32)
G TIMES indicator (page 48)
H Bounce indicator (page 36)
I Custom indicator (page 74)
J High-speed-sync indicator
(page 47)
K Wide-panel indicator (page 34)
L Low-battery indicator (page 16)
M OVERHEAT indicator (page 17)
N STANDBY indicator (page 21)
O Wireless channel indicator
(page 54)
P Wireless controller indicator
(page 54)
13
Q Wireless controller/remote
indicator (page 54)
R Flash-range/Multiple-flash
frequency/flash-ratio display
(page 27, 48, 66)
S Ratio-flash indicator (page 66)
T Operating indicator (page 78)
U Flash-range-warning (near side)
indicator (page 27, 43)
V TTL indicator (page 43)
W Manual-flash indicator
(page 43)
14
X Multiple-flash indicator
(page 48)
Y Flash-range-warning (far side)
indicator (page 27, 43)
Z ft/m indicator (page 27, 43)
wj Hz indicator (page 48)
P
reparations
Inserting batteries
The HVL-F58AM may be powered by :
• Four AA-size alkaline batteries*
• Four AA-size rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries*
* Batteries are not supplied.
Always ensure that rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries are charged in
the specified charger unit.
1 Open the battery-chamber door as shown.
2 Insert the batteries in the battery chamber as in the
diagram.
Preparations
3 Close the battery-chamber door.
• Follow the reverse procedure when opening the battery-chamber door.
15
Checking Batteries
The indicator on the data panel blinks when the batteries are low.
blinking
Changing the batteries is recommended.
The flash unit can still be used when the
TEST button lights up in amber.
Only blinking
Flash cannot be used.
Insert new batteries.
• If nothing appears on the LCD panel when the POWER switch is set to ON,
check the orientation of the batteries.
16
OVERHEAT indicator
When the temperature of this unit rises at the time of continuous flash use or use in
a high temperature environment, the flash suspends operation automatically.
• The OVERHEAT indicator blinks when overheating is detected.
• The flash operation is suspended until the temperature of the unit falls.
• Stop use of the flash unit for Approx. 10 minutes to allow the temperature of the
unit to cool down.
Preparations
17
Attachment and removal of the flash unit
Attaching the flash unit to the camera
While the flash unit is turned off, push the mounting foot
firmly onto the camera until it stops.
• The flash unit is locked in place automatically.
• If the built-in flash in the camera is protruding, lower it before attaching the
flash unit.
18
Removing the flash unit from the
camera
While pressing the mounting-foot release button 1,
remove the flash unit 2.
Preparations
19
Turning on the power
Set the POWER switch to ON.
The power of the flash unit turns on.
• When the power of the flash unit is turned on, the LCD panel lights up.
To turn the power off
Set the POWER switch to OFF.
20
Power save mode
When the camera or flash unit is not used for three minutes, the flash unit changes
to power save mode to save the batteries and STANDBY indicator appears on the
LCD panel.
• During wireless flash photography (page 54), the flash unit changes to power
save mode after 60 minutes.
• You can change the time until power save, or disable power save. (page 74)
• The flash unit turns into power save mode automatically when the POWER
switch of the camera is set to OFF.*
* When Sony digital single-lens reflex camera (other than DSLR-A100) is used.
Preparations
21
Changing the flash mode
Press the MODE button.
• The indicator on the LCD panel changes as follows.*
( AUTO) t WL t t ( AUTO) t . . .
* When the camera is disconnected.
• [ AUTO] lights up when the camera is set to Autoflash. Only [ ] lights up
when the camera is set to Full-flash.
22
About flash mode
• (Fill-flash mode)
The flash unit always fires.
• AUTO (Auto flash mode)
The flash unit is set to this mode when the camera is set to auto flash.
• WL (Wireless flash mode)
This mode is used during wireless flash photography.
• (Un-full-flash mode)
The flash unit does not fire.
Preparations
23
LCD panel illuminator
Illuminates the data panel at low-light levels.
Press the button.
• The LCD panel is illuminated for approximately eight seconds. This period is
extended if the flash or camera is used during this time.
• Press the button again while the LCD panel is illuminated to extinguish the
LCD panel illuminator.
24
Basi
cs
Program auto flash (The basics)
1 Select the P mode on the camera.
2 Press the MODE button to display [ AUTO] or [ ] on
the LCD panel.
• [ AUTO] lights up when the camera is set to Autoflash. Only [ ] lights
up when the camera is set to Full-flash.
Basics
25
3 Press the shutter button halfway down and make sure
that the subject is within the flash range.
• See page 27 for details on the flash range.
4 When the flash unit is charged, press the shutter
button to take a photo.
• The flash unit is fully charged when the TEST button on the control panel is
lit in amber. You can also confirm that the flash unit is fully charged by the
lighting of the “ ” indicator in the camera viewfinder.
26
When the correct exposure has been obtained for the photo just taken, the
TEST button on the control panel blinks in green.
• The photo will be under-exposed because of a lack of luminescence if taken
before charging is complete.
• Press the shutter button after making sure that charging is complete when using
the flash unit with the self-timer.
• If your camera has an AUTO mode or Scene Selection mode, they are dealt with
here as program auto.
• The flash mode selected (auto flash ( AUTO), fill-flash ( ), or un-full-flash
( )) depends on your camera. For details, refer to the operating instructions of
your camera.
Flash range
Press the shutter button halfway down.
The flash range for the proper exposure is displayed on the LCD panel. Make sure
that the subject is within this range and then take the photo.
Basics
27
Loading...